Scandalous (11 page)

“Wait a second Michelle. Why should I believe you? You ain’t never liked Tracy.”
“Me liking her ain't got shit to do with what I’m telling you. I just thought you might want to know your housemate was fucking Byron Caldwell. Damn, did I say his name? My bad.”
I sat in my seat, motionless. I could not believe what I was hearing. The Byron she wrote about was her teacher. And, now they are up here together. This time with no Brandon to get in the way.
“Michelle, how did you find all this out.”
“It’s all in her journal. I was in her room one day looking for a hair clip and ran across it lying open on her bed and the name Byron caught my eye and I found out more than what I wanted to.”
I knew she wasn’t lying about stuff like that being in her journal. I do question whether it was lying open on the bed or not, but that’s not the case. The case is now I can have my man all to myself.
Once inside the restaurant, I excused myself to go to the rest room. I went into one of the stalls and made a phone call.
“Hello?”
“Brandon you are not going to believe this,” I said whispering into the phone.
“What do you want Eric?”
“Listen, I just found out that Tracy is fucking one of her teachers.”
“First off, don’t call me with your lies and secondly why are you whispering.”
“’Cause I’m in a restaurant restroom, and does the name Byron Caldwell ring a bell?”
He went silent for a second. His breathing became loud and fast.
“Yeah, that was one of her teachers when she was down here.”
“Well, he’s up here now and she’s still sleeping him.” “How do you know?”
“I have my sources.”
“Well tell your sources to mind their business.”
I didn’t know what to think. This is not the reaction I had hoped for. I just knew that he would be yelling and cursing and damning her name. But it’s like he could care less. Since he didn’t get angry at her, now I’m pissed with him. “What the fuck is wrong with you! You got pissed off because I was with a woman while you were here, and now I tell you that your girl is still cheating on you and you act like it doesn’t bother you one bit. This is a chance for us to be together and you are letting it go right out the window!”
“Let me be honest with you. I like sleeping with you, don’t get me wrong. And, I actually care about you, but I don’t want to be with you like that. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My heart felt like it stopped for a few seconds. I got instantly dizzy. I just hung up the phone and sat on the toilet for a while. His words sent me over the edge. How could he not want me? Our chemistry is wonderful. Or at least I thought it was. My eyes filled with tears. I wanted to breakdown and cry.
Once I got myself together I walked back into the dinning area. Michelle had a plate of fried shrimp, pork fried rice, chicken wings, and those sugar-coated fried dumplings. I went through the line and came back with a bowl of Won Ton Soup. I was not in the mood for eating. I had lost my man and my appetite.
As I sat sipping at my soup I saw Skye and a few of her friends walk into the restaurant. At first she didn’t realize I was there. All I could do was hope that the waiter didn’t walk her past our table. I would have no such luck. As her friends walked past our table Skye stopped.
“So, I guess I’m spoiling your little date huh!”
I was not in the mood for some funny shit. “Skye you know this is my roommate Michelle.”
“I can see that but what I don’t understand is why ya’ll all out up under each other!”
Almost every head in the place was now looking in our

direction.
“Skye ain't shit going on here. We are just out grabbing a
bite to eat.”
That’s when all hell broke loose. “Hold up Eric, you
don’t have to explain shit to this trick!” Michelle stood up and
was in Skye’s face.
Skye was much smaller than Michelle. Skye’s crew
didn’t even come over to back her up. They just walked off. As
she realized she had just got punked she turned and looked
towards me.
“This ain’t over Eric. And Michelle, watch your back!” “Fuck you bitch. Go sit down,” Michelle yelled, as Skye
went to the other side of the restaurant.
“Come on Michelle, let’s go.”
“Why we got to leave? I haven’t got my second plate yet.” “Girl, I’ll treat you to some Burger King. Let’s get the hell
out of here.”
We left before any other altercations could happen. In the
car Michelle started with all the questions again. “What’s up with
you and Thomas?”
“He ain’t trying to get down with a brother. I tried to edge
him in my direction but he’s sold on some pussy so I just gave up
the chase. We’re still cool but it will have to be a determined
effort on my part and I ain’t trying to devote an entire year trying
to fuck one guy.

My world is upside down. My man is tripping and I can’t get away from my past. I hate having to come to his class. As I walk down the hall way I get to his class door. I hear a familiar voice.

“Why would I have to lie?”
“Fine, I believe you, just keep me posted.”
I walked into the room and saw Michelle and Byron

talking. My eyes almost fell out of my head. They both looked as if they had seen a ghost. Byron walked over to me and tried to explain. “Hey Tracy. How’s it going? Michelle and I were just talking about her trying to get into the culinary program.”

Michelle chimed in on time. “Well Professor Caldwell, I’ll be sure to get back to you about that okay?”
“Yes Michelle, you have a great day.”
I guess they thought I was stupid. I knew something was up but I didn’t know what. I walked over to Byron. “I want to end this between us Byron. It’s causing me to lose people that I really care for.”
“Okay then. Not a problem. You want it over, it’s over.”
I was shocked. He seemed to be serious. He went back to writing in his book, without even looking back at me.
“I’m glad we were able to handle this like adults.”
“Yeah me too. Well look, I have to make a stop at the post office to mail that tape of us together to your parents before my next class. So if you’ll excuse me.”
He tried to walk past me but I jumped in his way.
“But, I thought you said it was cool if we ended this?”
“Oh it is cool, but if we end this I’m going to have to mail that package. See, what you don’t seem to understand is that I say when it’s over between us. Not you.”
If looks could kill he’d been dead soon after those words fell from his lips.
“I fucking hate
you!” “So, and?”
I just walked towards the door. His words stopped me before I could walk out.
“So I guess tonight is a good night for us to get together then. I like it when you’re all pissed off. The pussy is great when you’re mad. I’ll give you a call later tonight.”
I stormed out of the classroom. I could no longer take being with Byron. I am going to take matters into my own hands.
I walked across campus with a purpose. I didn’t stop to talk to anybody. I was on a mission. I walked into the Add and Drop Department and withdrew from Byron’s class. When he calls me tonight, yes, I’m going to meet him and tell him exactly what I think about him and his little tape he’s holding over my head. I walked out of that office feeling liberated. I know that I’m taking a huge risk by doing this, but I have to end this.
On the way home from campus, I called Brandon’s cell phone. He had gone back to Miami and I had not spoken to him in a few days.
“Hello?”
“Hey baby, it’s me.”
“Hold on, let me turn my music down…okay, Tracy, how are you doing today?”
“I’m good. Look, I just want to tell you how much I really love you.”
“I love you too baby, you know that.”
“I know, but I just need to hear that from you every so often. But look. There might be something coming to your house. I don’t know what it will contain, but just remember that I love you.”
“You’re sending me
something?” “You can say that.”
When I hung up the phone I noticed that Brandon and I were listening to the same song on the radio and it was at the same point in the song. That’s really strange, or is that a sign that we are more connected than we thought. It’s meant for us to be together. I walked in the house and went directly to my room. I picked out the most revealing dress I had and laid it across the bed. I said to myself I want that nigga to see what he’ll never get again.
A few hours passed, and finally my cell phone
rang. “Hello?”
“I told you I was gonna call
you.” “Yeah, I’ve been waiting”
“You have?”
“Yeah, I’m tired of fighting you. It’s obvious that you love me and it’s time I stop denying myself the one man that really cares for me.”
The phone went silent. For the first time I felt incontrol of Byron.
“Well, meet me at my house in, say, in thirty
minutes.” “I’ll be there.”
I hung up the phone and started to laugh a little. I knew that tonight I was gonna finally end it. This wouldbe the last time I would have to see this man. As a matter of fact, I’m going to take out a restraining order tomorrow.
I walked into the front room. Michelle sat straightup when she looked at me in my dress.
“Damn, you need to let me rock that one night to the club!”
“I tell you what, after tonight, I’ll let you have it.” Then I mumbled to myself, not that your fat ass would ever get it on.
When I pulled up to Byron’s house, I thought, this poor, sad muthafucka has no idea what’s about to go down. I guess he was watching me walk up the walkway. He opened the door before I could ring the bell.
“Now, that’s what I’m talking about. You look good tonight!” I had never seen him so giddy.
“Well thank you.” I walked in the house and stood right next to the door. There was no way I was going to walk any further into the house. “Please, let’s go into the den”
He stuck out his arm showing me the way.
“No, actually I have to tell you something.” I backed up against the door. He couldn’t tell but I had my hand on the doorknob just in case I had to make a run for it.
“What is it baby?” He looked concerned and attentive.
“It’s over between us. I don’t care if you send that tape to my parents. I don’t care if you send it to Brandon ’cause he and I are no longer together anyway.” I gripped the door handle, ready to run.
Byron just stood there staring at me. His face went from concern to pure hate. He lunged at me. “Come here bitch!”
I snatched open the door and ran like hell to my car. I fumbled with the keys, trying to press the remote to unlock the doors. I didn’t know if he was behind me and I didn’t turn around to see. I heard the doors unlock and I just jumped in my car locked the door and started the engine. When I finally looked up the front door was closed. I hit the gas as I backed out the driveway. I noticed one of his neighbors was outside watering his yard.
“I know that man must think I’m crazy as hell,” I said to myself as I sped down the street.
My cell phone rang over and over. I looked at the caller I.D. and it was Byron. I drove around town for a little while, trying to calm myself down. My hands were shaking and my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. I hadn’t realized that I had been driving around for three hours. I went into a convenience store to grab a soda. The older white guy behind the counter tried to talk to me but I wasn’t having it. I went home and went directly to Eric’s room. He was standing in front of the mirror trying on some new clothes.
“Guess what?”
He turned around.
“What?” “I’m done.”
“What are you talking about?”
I sat him on the bed and told him everything. I went all the way back to when I went to school in Miami. He sat and listened to me go on and on. He never interrupted me one time. I told him about the relationship between Byron and me. I told him about how mad Brandon was when he found out. I told him about the other night when I was over there. I told him everything. I guess you can say that I really trust Eric. After I told him everything, he pulled me close to him and held me tight. That’s exactly what I needed at that point. A good hug.
The next morning I got up and felt wonderful. My cell phone had not ringed all night. The first thought I had, finally was not of Byron. I felt like a new woman. I went into the kitchen to have breakfast. Michelle sat to the table eating a bowl of cereal. I remembered I still needed to check her for the way she acted that night in the club with Brandon, but I even forgave her, I was feeling so good. I jumped in my car andheaded for the campus. From a distance I saw emergency rescue lined up behind the culinary building. I drove up slow in traffic trying to get on campus. The school’s security was directing trafficto go around where all the emergency vehicles were. I found a parking space on the other side of the campus. I heard several students talking as they were coming from the direction of the culinary buildings. I listened in on one conversation as they walked past me.
“They say his body has sat there for a while,” one of the students said.
A body, I said to myself as I sped up a little to really find out what was going on. The front of the building was sealed off with yellow tape and police everywhere. I walked up to one of my professors and asked, “What happened?”
Her face was soaked with tears. “They found him dead this morning half in his car.” Her voice was shaking after every word.
“Who’s dead?”
“Professor Caldwell.”
It was like everything was in slow motion. Everything went blank. I saw people moving but they were all in slow motion to me. I went to the parking lot. The policehad it blocked off as well. I saw Byron’s car and a black filled body bag was on the ground next to it. There was blood all over the place. The police were asking people if they saw anything, to come to them and tell what they knew. I turned to walk away and one of the detectives walked up to me.
“Hello miss, did you see anything here today?” “No officer.”
“You sure. Did you see or hear anything at all?”
“No sir. When I left him last night everything was fine.” Right then I wanted to take back every word I had just said. As soon as those words fell from my lips I knew I was in way over my head.
“You were with him last night?”
I knew I couldn’t lie, I would only look guilty. “Yes detective. I was over at his house last night.”
“Do you mind going to the station and answering a few questions?”
“No sir. Anything I can do to help, I will.”
Me and my big mouth. I went to the station and told them everything I knew about Byron. What happened next, I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. They had me sitting in a small room. Two detectives asked me question after question about Byron. Finally one of them said, “Tracy we’re goingto let you go. But, don’t leave town. We may need you back here for more questioning.”
Even in his death he still has control of my life.